King of the Hill - The Complete Third Season

Rating:
Summary: Explanation For Lack of Extras
Review: A brief explanation of why this set is bare-bones: seasons 1 and 2 of KING OF THE HILL did not sell well (in my opinion they were not marketed effectively), and season 3 had high music costs, making it expensive to release. Finally Fox agreed to release the season at a lower price than season 2, but without extras. If season 3 sells better, the other seasons will follow. And it does look like it is selling better, which gives reason to hope that the other seasons will follow more quickly.

It's a shame to lose out on the extras, but if it brings the rest of the series out, that's acceptable; with 25 episodes for under $30, that's little more than a buck an episode. And the good news is that all the songs in the episodes -- and a surprising number of scenes in this season make important use of music -- are intact: "Life in a Northern Town," "Takin' Care of Business," "Love Hurts," "Free Falling," and many others. So you can buy with confidence knowing that you're getting 25 great, unedited episodes at a low price.

I hope that if further seasons come out, Fox will at least put *something* on them, like the Museum of Television and Radio Panel, or the unaired "Monsignor Martinez" pilot. Or how about putting some KotH-related extras on the upcoming special edition of Mike Judge's "Office Space?" Come on, Fox, one bare-bones set we can live with, but do better next time.


Rating:
Summary: DANG 'OL CHEAP FOX - NO EXTRAS?
Review: How can Fox treat an Emmy-Award Winning season of a show that is entering it's 9th season so poorly? Season One and Two brought us deleted scenes, single-sided discs with clever artwork, and hysterical commentaries...

Season Three treats it's fans to absolutely nothing, and that's NOT an exageration. There is not one single extra. No disc art, because you have to flip them over to see all the episodes. Hello? Is this the 20th or 21st century? This is a cheap excuse for a boxed-set. I'd love to return this set, but the episodes are so dang good...they're brilliantly animated, acted and written...unlike this terrible boxed set.

It's very sad to see such a brilliant, classic show treated so disrespectfully.

Shame on you Fox. Shame shame shame.

Rating:
Summary: Dissapointed, but hey, thats life
Review: I am only one here utterly dissapointed with this product (mind you i havent read all the reviews yet).

Lack of Special Features:

Sure, not all DVDs have special features, and they are in no way a prerequisite to claiming a DVD or DVD set to be 'great'. However, DVD products have gotten to the point where it is not only expected that they include these features, but that these features be worth our while standalone. Considering how in the KOTH season 1 and 2 releases, the special features were numerous and might I add flavourful. Deleted scenes and commentary for the bulk of the episodes. No such luxuries in this set.

DVD Art and Menus:

When I got Season 1, I found the DVD covers (not the box cover) and the individual menu screnes both humurous and creative, but nothing spectacular. Then with the purchase of Season 2, I was estatic to see that not only had they continued that trend, but that they had upped the bar to such an extend. I really enjoyed the individual casing and DVD for each member of the Hank's posse, and each Menu screen representing one of their more popular settings. Season 3 however, took a step back with amateurish (not that i could draw any better) drawn close ups of the Hill Family. On the CDs, there is no art at all because, and I'm only guessing this is why, Fox decided to cut costs and print double sided discs (I Hate double sided disks, but thats a nut for another day). The Menu art choppy, not to mention not nearly as inventive as i would have hoped; way to damn repeative.

DVD Errors:

I'm actually not that upset about this but I'll point it out anyway (might only be my copy thought). Whenever I use the 'Play All' Feature, it repeats the last chapter of the fisrt episode on that side of this disc. Annoying, but trivial.

For Episodes Alone This DVD is worth it, although I prefered Season 2.

In the end I'm just being a picky bastard. I love KOTH; still think it beats Simpsons and Family Guy, as well as most any sitcom, out of the water. I just don't understand the seemingly rushed job FOX did here. I mean the original release date was almost a year ago, and it appears pushing it back was not in order to better it. After all that waiting, I just feel dissapointed.

Rating:
Summary: No EXTRAS? Dang ol'...ROBBED, man!
Review: I have read a few other reviews and I agree that it is lacking. The whole point of putting TV on DVD is for at least a few extras. What I miss the most is the character's commentaries... I have watched them from seasons 1 and 2 and laugh harder each time I watch them. I think the show really grew into its skin during season 3, but not putting any goodies on the DVDs isn't fair to the loyal fans. I could have taped episodes off the TV and gotten the same set!

Rating:
Summary: Really disappointed by lack of extras.
Review: I have yet to buy this set but after hearing about the complete lack of extras, I don't know whether or not I'm going to. One thing I absolutely loved about the first two box sets was audio commentary done by the King of the Hill characters themselves. This set was advertised a long time ago so you would assume that they would have been taking a long time putting together commentary tracks and other extras. Seeing as how I have seen most of these episodes in syndicated reruns ad naseum, I was really really expecting new, great, character commentaries.

Rating:
Summary: It's just so great, I love it!
Review: I know I'm repeating myself here and I'm basically just echoing what I said in my own previous reviews of Seasons 1 and 2, but King of the Hill isn't the crazy world of The Simpsons or Family Guy, it's set in a much more realistic and subtle universe. Yes there is eccentric humor but it's pulled off in a convincing, un-contrived way, which makes it even more ingenius.

I love the animation. It's not the bright primary colors of regular animated shows, but more of a pencil sketch kinda appearance (sorry, that is the best description I can give as I am not up on animation lingo). And the characters and voices are perfect. How can you not feel sorry for Bill, or not fall in love with Louanne (who pretty much has the most gorgeous voice I've ever heard)?

Though KOTH is more willing to have characters grow and change the formula(very unusual for sitcoms) you can bet your bottom dollar that Hank is still a strict regular joe, Dale is a paranoid coward, Bill is still lonely, Boomhauer is incomprehensible (but he does get a brilliant moment in the episode 'A Fire Fighting We Will Go') and Hank's dad is still a highly, highly sexist old geezer with a pregnant girlfriend.

Much like Season 2, this Season ends with a great cliffhanger. Grandpa's girlfriend goes into labor and 12-year-old Bobby has to make the 2-hour drive to the hospital as Hank and Peggy go skydiving, only to end in a horrible accident (Peggy's chute doesn't open and she goes SPLAT!)

I want Season 4 NOW! There were no extras in this set, but there were plenty in the previous box sets so it's okay by me if they are sacrificed in order to get Season 4 out quicker.

The episodes are all presented in 1.33:1 full frame, as drawn with Dolby 2.0 surround.

Rating:
Summary: It's about time
Review: It's here, I do not know how much longer FOX could have waited to put this season out. This is the greatest of the three released so far. I enjoyed the entire set, King of the Hill marathons for all. I have NO idea why people complain about less disks w/o pictures, I for one watch the episodes. Can't say anything bad about it other than it took forever to come out, I hope season four is released alot sooner than three.

Rating:
Summary: No Extras?? What Are They Trying To Pull Here??
Review: King Of The Hill has become one of those "like it or hate it" shows. I have found myself on both sides of the fence at one time or another but...upon reflection, this show ranks as one of the best comedies on television right now. It differs from The Simpsons and South Park in that it doesn't lampoon life so much as it presents it in animated form. The story lines are plausible for the most part (could a man walk around without shins, however, and father a child at the age of seventy whether or not he "killed fiddy men" in the war??).

This is a season that began with a boom (the explosion of the Mega-Lo-Mart) and ended with a thud (Peggy Hill falling to earth when her parachute wouldn't open).

In between, this stands up as the best season so far...as they say on the front of the box "Emmy Award Winning Season!"...and it doesn't take long to see why.

Whether dealing with loss (of life and hair)in "Death Of A Propane Salesman", infidelity (Peggy finally clues in on Dale's wife's affair in "Peggy's Headache"...the last to know as usual), young love ("And They Call It Bobby Love"), cross dressing ("Pretty,Pretty Dresses"), sports ("Three Coaches And A Bobby', "Hank's Cowboy Movie", "Take Me Out Of The Ball Game'), Hank is still insecure and indignant, Peggy is still vain and Bobby is still experiencing the growing pains of a child who seems a little...well...different.

We see Hank's attempt to breed his dog, his struggles to raise his sperm count only to find out his father is becoming a father again, a lawn mower focus group, Hank, Bill, Boomhauer and Dale as the worst volunteer fire fighters you'll ever meet, Paddlin Peggy Hill, Bobby "marrying" Luanne, Hank's colon on display at an art gallery and Bobby burning down the church. All this and so much more.

The episodes are fantastic and presented well here. The problem? Unlike the first two boxed sets which presented a huge plethora of extras, you get nothing here...nada...zilch...zip. They had always had a advantage in the DVD game on the other two aforementioned and now they've gone and ruined it. Yes, we get all 25 episodes...but people buy the DVDs for the extras too and for those who look for these, I couldn't recommend purchasing this set. If you love the show (as I do...at least right now), it's a great addition to the collection, probably the best 25 shows they'll do...but, guys, you have to give us something. You can't give us a banquet one time then nothing the next. Five stars for the shows and zip for the extras I'll tell you what!


Rating:
Summary: Easily the worst Fox DVD release ever....
Review: What was FOX thinking when they produced this DVD set. Cheap...thats what they were thinking. Take a great long running show and put out a cheap 3 double sided disc set that doesn't match with the first two seasons which were given great DVD sets. I personally want them to re-release Season 3 with the same treatment the first two seasons were given. The packaging is part of the reason I buy the DVDs. If I wanted plain discs I would download the episodes on the internet illegally and burn them on a disc. FOX has done so well up until this point and I hope that they are not leaning towards double sided discs for future seasons of the Simpsons and other shows. Go back to the one sided discs FOX. Give the fans what they are paying for.

Rating:
Summary: We'll let it slide this time
Review: While I was glad that Season 3 was finally released I was very dissapointed that there were no extras. Particularly missed, were the "character commentaries".Hearing Dale, Bill, Bobby and Peggy talking about the episodes was an inspired idea. FOX if you're reading this, we'll be expecting some extras on Season 4 or I'll kick your a**, I tell you what.